Outdoor enclosure with magnetic flap closure

ABSTRACT

A portable hunting blind includes side walls having door and window openings formed therein. The hunting blind provides at least one magnetic member to enable a user to releasably fasten window or door covers to the side walls of the blind in a substantially noiseless manner. Noiseless fastening of a cover over an opening is accomplished by providing a magnetic member at a peripheral edge of the cover, and providing the periphery of the opening with a cooperating material such as a second magnetic strip or a metallic strip. When the edge of the cover is placed adjacent to the periphery of the opening, the magnetic member is releasably secured to the cooperating material within the periphery of the opening by the magnetic attraction of the two components. Quiet opening of the closed cover is also made possible by the magnetic connection between the components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e), based on U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/645,925, filed Jan. 22, 2005. The disclosure of this priority document is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable shelters and similar outdoor enclosures, for providing a hidden location for a hunter or naturalist to occupy in the field, while observing or waiting for game or other wildlife. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hunting blind, shelter or similar outdoor enclosure having structure for noiseless opening, closure, and adjustment of door and window flaps.

2. Description of the Background Art

When out in the field for moderate or long periods, hunters often spend time in hunting blinds to disguise themselves from game, and also to protect themselves from inclement weather. As game approaches the blind, the hunter must position himself and his weapon to obtain a clear sight line to the game, and the structure of the blind obscures the game's view of these small movements of the hunter.

However, the structure of the blind can also obscure the game from the view of the hunter. As game approach the blind or pass around the blind, the hunter may adjust the size of the window or door openings to obtain a better view, or may need to shift to alternate window or door openings, depending upon the path of the game about the blind.

Conventional blinds provide zippers or hook and loop fasteners to secure the door or window flaps to the side walls of the blind. Operation of these conventional fastening structure can be very noisy, and may startle the game and thereby diminish or negate any advantage achieved by the hunter hidden within the blind. When a wild animal is startled, the animal is apt to quickly depart and leave the offending area. It will be appreciated that this result will be displeasing to the hunter.

Similarly, naturalists, nature photographers, and environmental scientists often work out in the field, such as in forest or wilderness areas. Naturalists often wish to approach wild animals as closely as possible without being detected, in order to photograph or observe the animals in their natural habitat, while disturbing them as little as possible. Accordingly, these people also find it useful to achieve silent opening, closure, and adjustment of door and window flaps.

Many designs for hunting blinds are known. Class 135, subclass 900 is provided in the U.S. Patent Classification System for the listing of hunting blinds and ice-fishing shelters.

Guggisberg (U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,115) and Dobberstein (U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,197) are examples of references which disclose tent-like structures having door and window openings and which include fastening structures for securing covers over these openings.

Although the known devices are useful for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for an improved structure for obtaining silent opening, closure, and adjustment of door and window flaps in a hunting blind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable hunting blind or similar enclosure that provides concealing cover to a hunter in the field. An enclosure according to the present invention includes use of a magnetic member to adjustably and releasably fasten window or door flaps to the side walls of the blind in a substantially noiseless manner.

An enclosure according to the present invention includes side walls, and further includes at least one opening formed in a side wall for use as a door or window. The opening is provided with a cover which allows selective opening, closure, and adjustment of the size of the opening. The cover may be in the style of a flap, wherein one or more edges of the flap are permanently secured to the side wall adjacent to the opening, and the remaining edges are selectively and detachably secured to the side wall of the blind around the opening using magnets or other substantially noiseless fastening structure. Alternatively, the cover may be in the style of a patch, wherein the cover is completely separable from the blind, and one or more edges are selectively and detachably fixed around the opening using substantially noiseless fastening structure.

In a first illustrative embodiment, the noiseless fastening structure provides a peripheral edge of the cover with a magnetic member such as a long magnetic strip or short magnet segment, and providing the periphery of the opening with a cooperating material such as a second magnetic strip or a metallic strip. When the edge of the cover is placed adjacent to the periphery of the opening, the magnetic member is releasably secured to the cooperating material within the periphery of the opening by the magnetic attraction of the two components. Because there are no interconnecting parts (as found in zippers and hook and loop fastener), securement and release of the magnetic member to the cooperating material are effectively noiseless. Any slight clicking noise that may result from the initial contact of the two components can be reduced or eliminated by sewing the components into the fabric of the blind.

The cooperating material may be placed about the peripheral edge of the opening in an orientation and position which mirrors the placement of the magnetic member on the cover. Alternatively, the cooperating material may be provided along the entire peripheral edge, regardless of the arrangement of the magnetic member within the cover, so as to maximize adjustability of the cover over the opening, and to minimize effort required to position the cover over the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention, the enclosure includes a plurality of door and window openings, positioned about the side walls so as to provide viewing of the exterior, substantially in all directions.

In another embodiment of the invention, the enclosure may be a tent-like structure formed of flexible fabric and including a roof section and a fabric support structure, such as resiliently flexible poles or the like. The flexible fabric enclosure is provided with a plurality of door and window openings, each of which includes a selectively openable cover. Cover flaps may be provided for these openings, and such flaps may be located either on the inside or on the outside of the structure.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the enclosure may have solid walls with a plurality of door and window openings, each of which includes a selectively openable cover.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable hunting blind or similar enclosure having door and/or window flaps that allow substantially noiseless opening, closure, and adjustment of these openings.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an outer perspective view of a first portable hunting enclosure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a continuous magnetic strip sewn into the side wall along the periphery of the opening, and showing segments of magnetic strip secured to the inner surface of the flap-type cover;

FIG. 1B is an outer perspective view of a second portable hunting enclosure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a continuous magnetic strip used along the top edge of the openings, and showing segments of magnetic strip secured along the lower edges of the patch-type cover;

FIG. 1C is an inner perspective view showing the interior of a third portable hunting enclosure in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, showing a continuous magnetic strip sewn into the side wall along the periphery of an opening having a cover flap which opens on the inside of the enclosure, and showing segments of magnetic strip secured to the inner surface of the flap-type cover;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an enclosure showing a patch-type cover over an opening illustrating the use of spaced short segments of magnet to secure the cover to the side wall;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an enclosure showing a patch-type cover over an opening illustrating the use of a continuous magnetic strip along the upper edge of the cover in combination with spaced short segments of magnet along the bottom edge to secure the cover to the side wall;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an enclosure showing a patch-type cover over an opening illustrating the use of a continuous magnetic strip along the entire periphery of the cover to secure the cover to the side wall;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an enclosure showing a flap-type cover over an opening illustrating the use of short segments of magnet to secure the bottom corners of the cover to the side wall;

FIG. 6 is a front view of an enclosure showing a flap-type cover over an opening illustrating the use of a continuous magnetic strip to secure the bottom edge of the cover to the side wall;

FIG. 7 is a front view of an enclosure showing a flap-type cover over an opening illustrating the use of a continuous magnetic strip to secure the bottom edge and respective sides of the cover to the side wall;

FIG. 8 is a modified detail view of a portion of FIG. 4, illustrating the cooperative interaction of the continuous magnetic strip (double-hatching) along the peripheral edge of the cover with the continuous strip of cooperative material (single hatching) along the periphery of the opening;

FIG. 9 is a modified detail view of a portion of FIG. 2, illustrating the cooperative interaction of the spaced short segments of magnet (double-hatching) along the peripheral edge of the cover with the spaced short segments of cooperative material (single hatching) along the periphery of the opening;

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of magnetic strip (double-hatching) secured to the under surface of the cover and cooperative material (single hatching) secured to the upper surface of the side wall showing the direct confronting relationship of the magnetic strip and the cooperative material;

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of magnetic strip (double-hatching) sewn within the cover and cooperative material (single hatching) sewn within the side wall showing the indirect confronting relationship of the magnetic strip and the cooperative material wherein these components are separated by two layers of fabric; and

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of magnetic strip (double-hatching) secured to the under surface of the cover and cooperative material (single hatching) sewn within the side wall showing the indirect confronting relationship of the magnetic strip and the cooperative material wherein these components are separated by one layer of fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in accordance with a particular illustrative embodiment of the invention, a portable enclosure 10, 10′, such as a portable hunting blind or similar enclosure used to provide concealing cover and shelter to a hunter in the field, will be described. The inventive enclosure 10, 10′ includes a plurality of interconnected side walls 20, a closed roof 26, and a plurality of openings 30 formed in the side walls.

The enclosure 10, 10′ may be a tent-like structure formed of flexible fabric and an associated support structure, such as resiliently flexible poles or the like. The flexible fabric enclosure is provided with a plurality of door 22 and window 24 openings 30, each of which includes a selectively openable cover 40.

It is understood, however, that the enclosure 10 may instead be formed of rigid materials, such as solid, thin panel walls and roof components, and also include a plurality of door and window openings, each of which includes a selectively openable cover.

The openings 30 in the side walls 20 are determined to be doors 22 or windows 24 depending upon their size and position within the side wall 20. At least one door 22 is provided for access into the interior space, and a plurality of windows 24 are used, to permit visual observation of the surroundings in multiple directions from the interior of the enclosure 10.

Each opening 30 is provided with a cover 40 for covering placement over the opening 30. The cover 40 allows for selective opening and closure of the opening 30, and adjustment of the size of the opening 30. Each cover 40 is sized to be slightly larger than the opening 30 it covers. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the covers 40 are located on the outside of the enclosure. Alternatively, cover flaps 140 may be provided on the interior of the enclosure 110, as illustrated in FIG. 1C.

The cover 40 may have a shape that is identical to that of the opening 30 that it covers. However, it is within the scope of this invention to provide covers 40 that are not the same shape as the openings 30. For example, a square cover 40 may be used to cover a circular or semicircular opening 30 (FIG. 1B).

Referring now to FIGS. 8-9, it will be seen that each cover 40 has a peripheral edge 46 that defines its shape. Each cover 40 also has an inner surface 42 which overlies and confronts the opening 30 and the edge of the side wall 20 adjacent to the opening 30. Each cover 40 also has an outer surface 44 that is opposed to the inner surface 42.

The cover 40 may be in the style of a cover flap 40″, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1C and 5-7, wherein one or more edges of the flap 40″ are permanently secured to the side wall 20 adjacent the opening 30, and the remaining edges are selectively and removably secured to the side wall 20 of the enclosure 10 around the opening 30 (hereafter referred to as the periphery 36 of the opening 30) using substantially noiseless selectively detachable magnetic fastening structure.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2-4, the cover 40 may be made in the style of a removable patch 40′, wherein the patch-type cover 40′ is completely separable from the enclosure 10, and one or more edges of the patch-type cover 40′ are selectively fixed to the periphery 36 of the opening 30 using substantially noiseless selectively detachable magnetic fastening structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the noiseless selectively detachable fastening structure includes a magnetic strip 50 provided at a peripheral edge 46 of the cover 40, and a cooperating material 60, such as a second magnetic strip or a metallic strip which will attract a magnet, provided at the periphery of the opening 30. When the peripheral edge 46 of the cover 40 is placed adjacent to the periphery 36 of the opening 30, the magnetic strip 50 is releasably secured to the cooperating material 60, at the periphery of the opening 30, by the magnetic attraction between the two components.

Although the invention is described herein as the cover 40 being provided with the magnetic strip 50, and the periphery 36 of the opening 30 being provided with the cooperating material 60, it is understood that the invention will function equally well if the cover 40 is provided with the cooperative material 60, and the periphery 36 of the opening 30 is provided with a magnetic strip 50.

The magnetic strip 50, where used, may be formed from a long, thin, narrow, continuous body. It may be provided in a single piece extending along the periphery of the cover (FIG. 4 and FIG. 7). Alternatively, the magnetic strip 50 may be provided as one or more long pieces arranged end-to-end. The magnetic strip 50 may, alternatively, be provided in blocks or short segments 52. Magnet segments 52, where used, may be placed along the periphery of the cover in a spaced-apart manner (FIG. 2 and FIG. 5).

An alternative arrangement includes providing magnets 50, 52 only in strategic locations, such as at the corners of the cover (FIG. 5) or along a single edge (FIG. 6). Still another alternative arrangement includes providing a combination of long magnetic strips 50 and short magnet segments 52, positioned strategically about the peripheral edge 46 of the cover 40 so that higher stress areas are provided with more magnetic surface contact area than lower stress areas (FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3).

The cooperating material 60 may be placed about the periphery 36 of the opening 30 in a size (for example, strip 60 or segment 62), an orientation, and a position which mirrors the placement of magnets 50, 52 on the cover 40. Alternatively, the cooperating material 60 may be provided along the entire periphery 36, regardless of the arrangement of the magnets 50, 52 within the cover 40, so as to maximize adjustability of the cover 40 over the opening 30, and to minimize the effort required to position the cover 40 over the opening 30.

Both the magnets 50, 52 and the cooperating material 60 may be glued on, or otherwise affixed to the respective surfaces of the fabric that forms the side wall 20 or cover 40. When the magnets 50, 52 and the cooperating material 60 are affixed to the surface of the cover 40 and enclosure side wall 20, respectively, it is very easy to visually target the placement of the magnet 50, 52 over the cooperating material 60 when the enclosure is assembled. This surface positioning also maximizes the interaction between the magnet 50, 52 and the cooperating material 60.

However, it is also within the scope of this invention to sandwich both the magnet 50, 52 and the cooperating material 60 between layers of fabric. For example, when the edges of the cover fabric are turned under and sewn during manufacture, the magnetic strip 50 or magnet segment 52 can be inserted into this folded edge and sewn in place. The cooperating material can likewise be sewn into the periphery 36 of the opening 30. This construction is aesthetically attractive, and the fabric cover over the interacting components provides additional sound dampening. A further advantage to this construction is that it makes it easy for the patch-style cover 40′ to be secured over the opening from either the interior or the exterior of the enclosure 10, depending on the preference of the user.

In one illustrative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the magnet 50, 52 is secured to the inner surface 42 of the cover 40 along the peripheral edge 46, and the cooperating material 60 is sewn into the side wall 20 at the periphery 36 of the opening 30. This construction achieves the advantage of greater cooperative interaction between the magnet 50, 52 and the cooperative material 60 than in the case wherein both of these components are encased in fabric. Furthermore, it also provides a fabric interface between the magnet 50, 52 and the cooperative material 60 that provides additional sound dampening, and allows the patch-style cover 40′ to be secured over the opening from either the interior or the exterior of enclosure 10.

The material used to form the cover 40 may be identical to the fabric which is used to form the side walls 20 of the enclosure 10. However, in one optional embodiment, the cover material may be made visually transparent or translucent. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, a transparent plastic or a plastic mesh screen.

In another embodiment, the cover 40 may be formed of two separate layers joined along a top edge thereof. The outer layer consists of the fabric used to form the walls of the enclosure, and the inner layer is a generally visually transparent material.

It is understood from the foregoing examples that a hunting blind or enclosure 10 in accordance with the invention may be provided in a wide assortment of shapes and sizes, so long as at least part of the enclosure employs structure for essentially noiseless selective opening, closure, and adjustment of covers 40 for openings 30 in the side wall 20. FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, for example, illustrate the inventive closure structure employed on enclosures of varied style and sizes.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, an enclosure 110 is shown from a vantage point on the interior thereof. This enclosure 110 may be, for example, a hunting blind, having a window opening 130 formed in a side wall 104 thereof, which includes a selectively openable cover flap 140. In the embodiment of FIG. 1C, the cover flap 140 opens inwardly into the interior of the enclosure.

Also in the embodiment of FIG. 1C, a peripheral edge 146 of the enclosure wall 104, in the area immediately surrounding the window opening 130 is provided with a magnetic strip 150 sewn inside of the fabric thereof, and the peripheral edge of the cover flap 140 has a plurality of cooperating material 160 thereon, such as pieces of steel or another ferrous metal, or correspondingly-spaced magnets 152 attached thereto and arranged to attract the magnets 150 along the peripheral edge. Where complimentary magnets 152 are used, they are oriented so as to be attracted to the magnetic strip 150 surrounding the window opening 130. (Optionally, the magnets 152 may also be sewn inside of the fabric of the cover flap 140, so as not to be readily visible to a casual observer.)

When the peripheral edge 146 of the cover flap 140 is placed adjacent to the periphery of the window opening 130, the corresponding material 160 enables the peripheral edge 146 of the cover flap 140 to be releasably secured to the periphery 136 of the opening 130, by the magnetic attraction of the two components.

It is also noteworthy that in a hunting blind application, when a hunter in the blind wishes to remove the window cover flap 140 from the window opening 130 in order to shoot a gun or arrow outwardly through the window at a game animal located close to the window opening, the cover flap can be removed from the opening either in complete silence, or with only the slightest noise. This provides an advantage in avoiding “spooking” the game, as contrasted with the noise generated by the movement of opening a metal or plastic zipper.

Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a number of preferred embodiments thereof, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the preferred embodiments could be made which would be operable. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A portable enclosure for providing shelter and concealment, said portable enclosure comprising: a plurality of side walls, at least one of the side walls having an opening formed therein; a cover for covering placement over the opening; wherein the cover is provided with magnetic fastening structure for use in fastening the cover to the side wall such that it covers the opening, and wherein the magnetic fastening structure permits substantially noiseless, selectively detachable securement of the cover about the opening.
 2. The portable enclosure of claim 1, wherein the fastening structure allows for substantially noiseless adjustment of a position of the cover about the opening.
 3. The portable enclosure of claim 1, wherein the fastening structure comprises: a magnetic member operatively associated with one of the cover and a periphery of the opening, and a magnetically attractive member operatively associated with the other of the cover and the periphery of the opening, wherein the magnetic member is capable of being retained against the magnetically attractive member by magnetic force when the magnetic member is placed adjacent to the magnetically attractive member.
 4. The portable enclosure of claim 3, wherein the magnetically attractive member is sewn into the side wall proximate a periphery of the opening, such that a portion of the side wall lies between the magnetically attractive member and the magnetic member when the cover is secured to the side wall using the fastening structure.
 5. The portable enclosure of claim 4, wherein the magnetic member is sewn into the peripheral edge of the cover, such that both a portion of the cover and a portion of the side wall lie between the magnetically attractive member and the magnetic member when the cover is secured to the side wall using the fastening structure.
 6. The portable enclosure of claim 3, wherein the cover is securable to the side wall from the interior of the enclosure.
 7. The portable enclosure of claim 3, wherein the magnetic member comprises at least one magnetic strip.
 8. The portable enclosure of claim 3, wherein the magnetic member comprises at least one short, thin magnet segment.
 9. The portable enclosure of claim 3, wherein the magnetic member comprises a combination of at least one magnetic strip and at least one short, thin magnet segment.
 10. The portable enclosure of claim 3, wherein the magnetic member comprises a plurality of magnetic bodies, and wherein the plurality of magnetic bodies are positioned along the peripheral edge of the cover in a spaced-apart relationship, and wherein the magnetically attractive member comprises a plurality of magnetically attractive bodies, and wherein the plurality of magnetically attractive bodies are positioned along the peripheral edge of the opening in a spaced-apart relationship such that positions of the magnetically attractive bodies on the side wall mirror the positions of the magnetic bodies on the cover.
 11. The portable enclosure of claim 3 wherein the magnetic member comprises a plurality of magnetic bodies, and wherein the plurality of magnetic bodies are positioned along the peripheral edge of the cover in a spaced-apart relationship, and wherein the magnetically attractive member comprises a generally continuous strip that surrounds the opening in the side wall, such that the cover can be placed over the opening in a plurality of positions.
 12. A portable enclosure for providing shelter and concealment, said portable enclosure comprising: a plurality of side walls, at least one of the side walls having an opening formed therein; a cover for covering placement over the opening, the cover being operatively attached to the side wall along a lower portion of the opening; wherein the cover is provided with magnetic fastening structure for use in fastening the cover to the side wall such that it covers the opening, the fastening structure comprising: a first magnetic member operatively associated with one of the cover and a periphery of the opening, and a magnetically attractive member operatively associated with the other of the cover and the periphery of the opening, wherein the magnetic member is capable of being retained against the magnetically attractive member by magnetic force when the magnetic member is placed adjacent to the magnetically attractive member.
 13. The portable enclosure of claim 12, wherein the magnetically attractive member is sewn into the side wall proximate a periphery of the opening, such that a portion of the side wall lies between the magnetically attractive member and the magnetic member when the cover is secured to the side wall using the fastening structure.
 14. The portable enclosure of claim 13, wherein the magnetic member is sewn into the peripheral edge of the cover, such that both a portion of the cover and a portion of the side wall lie between the magnetically attractive member and the magnetic member when the cover is secured to the side wall using the fastening structure.
 15. The portable enclosure of claim 12, wherein the cover is securable to the side wall from the interior of the enclosure. 